ALL STARS, WAIVERS, QUEBEC, STOLL, SPOTT, LEOPOLD, GERBE
ALL STARS
-It's embarrassing that 25% of PHWA voters didn't know what position to write Ovechkin in for, even though emails were sent out to voters telling them to carefully vote Ovechkin as a RW. Ovechkin played RW for most of the season, so voting him at LW shows a lack of understanding of how you're voting. How in the hell does the NHL even allow a player to take two positions on all star teams? They should have just downright blocked it completely from occurring. Taylor Hall loses the recognition he deserved because of a stupid voting "glitch" in the system, a loophole. If the NHL and PHWA wants to stop this joke from ever happening again, just make the category "wingers" and the top 4 wingers make it onto the all-star teams. I noticed Tyler Dellow is creating a list of people who voted Ovechkin at RW and those who voted him on LW, if you think you could help, give him a shout at @mc79hockey
-Does it matter that much? Not really, but it robs a guy from being recognized and it also goes hand-in-hand with the NHL awards, which had some outrageous joke votes.
-Chris Kunitz on the 1st team LW? He had a good year, but let's be honest: Crosby is why he scores so much. He's a good player, but not a 1st team All-Star.
WAIVERS
-Some interesting names on waivers. I wouldn't have any interest in Sergei Kostitsyn, Carlo Colaiacovo, or Filip Kuba. Tom Gilbert is interesting, because he was suffering through pneumonia during the season and struggled partly due to that. I really hope a team takes a chance on Keith Ballard when he's bought out, I think he can still be useful. I also think a team should claim Nathan Gerbe on waivers, because he's relatively cheap and his heart is certainly there.
-Two guys that really should be headed for buyout later today: Shawn Horcoff in Edmonton and Scottie Upshall in Florida. Both on bad deals, both need fresh starts.
QUEBEC CITY
-I still don't think expansion is the right way to go for the NHL. Two teams probably should move. Despite the deal struck by Glendale council, I think it's ridiculous that the Coyotes didn't move. The Florida Panthers are giving away tickets at times. Quebec City is waiting, as is Seattle, although I'd like to see an indication of a stronger market before I'm convinced on Seattle.
STOLL
-Best wishes and we all hope Jarret will be okay after suffering that seizure. I really hope that there is nothing seriously wrong with him, and I also really hope his concussion history has nothing to do with it.
-If it's something problematic, then it will be sad to see Stoll retire early, but long term health overall is more important than the game of hockey.
SPOTT
-I am not loving this for the Toronto Marlies. He seems to be good at coaching younger players, but I was not a fan at all of his performance coaching Canada at the World Juniors. For Toronto's sake, we'll hope he's better.
LEOPOLD
-Good signing by the Blues, considering he's going to be a No.5 D. What a deep blueline! It's safe to assume that Kris Russell and Ian Cole are on the trading block in St. Louis
-He went to the Stanley Cup Final with Calgary, he got his bell rung by Andy Sutton when he was a Penguin...this guy has been around forever it seems like. He's only 31.
GERBE
-What a curious buyout by Buffalo. 1.85M is nothing for a guy who tries hard every night. I guess Regier just wants to get bigger, but no one wanted him? Even for a 7th rounder?
-Buffalo should probably buyout Ville Leino, if healthy. The guy has tons of skill, but the Sabres are just not a great fit.
LEDDY
-Good to see him re-sign in Chicago, but he needs to round out his game. He was basically stapled to the bench in the Final and despite the new contract, it's pretty clear Quenneville doesn't trust him at the moment.
Thanks for reading!
-It's embarrassing that 25% of PHWA voters didn't know what position to write Ovechkin in for, even though emails were sent out to voters telling them to carefully vote Ovechkin as a RW. Ovechkin played RW for most of the season, so voting him at LW shows a lack of understanding of how you're voting. How in the hell does the NHL even allow a player to take two positions on all star teams? They should have just downright blocked it completely from occurring. Taylor Hall loses the recognition he deserved because of a stupid voting "glitch" in the system, a loophole. If the NHL and PHWA wants to stop this joke from ever happening again, just make the category "wingers" and the top 4 wingers make it onto the all-star teams. I noticed Tyler Dellow is creating a list of people who voted Ovechkin at RW and those who voted him on LW, if you think you could help, give him a shout at @mc79hockey
-Does it matter that much? Not really, but it robs a guy from being recognized and it also goes hand-in-hand with the NHL awards, which had some outrageous joke votes.
-Chris Kunitz on the 1st team LW? He had a good year, but let's be honest: Crosby is why he scores so much. He's a good player, but not a 1st team All-Star.
WAIVERS
-Some interesting names on waivers. I wouldn't have any interest in Sergei Kostitsyn, Carlo Colaiacovo, or Filip Kuba. Tom Gilbert is interesting, because he was suffering through pneumonia during the season and struggled partly due to that. I really hope a team takes a chance on Keith Ballard when he's bought out, I think he can still be useful. I also think a team should claim Nathan Gerbe on waivers, because he's relatively cheap and his heart is certainly there.
-Two guys that really should be headed for buyout later today: Shawn Horcoff in Edmonton and Scottie Upshall in Florida. Both on bad deals, both need fresh starts.
QUEBEC CITY
-I still don't think expansion is the right way to go for the NHL. Two teams probably should move. Despite the deal struck by Glendale council, I think it's ridiculous that the Coyotes didn't move. The Florida Panthers are giving away tickets at times. Quebec City is waiting, as is Seattle, although I'd like to see an indication of a stronger market before I'm convinced on Seattle.
STOLL
-Best wishes and we all hope Jarret will be okay after suffering that seizure. I really hope that there is nothing seriously wrong with him, and I also really hope his concussion history has nothing to do with it.
-If it's something problematic, then it will be sad to see Stoll retire early, but long term health overall is more important than the game of hockey.
SPOTT
-I am not loving this for the Toronto Marlies. He seems to be good at coaching younger players, but I was not a fan at all of his performance coaching Canada at the World Juniors. For Toronto's sake, we'll hope he's better.
LEOPOLD
-Good signing by the Blues, considering he's going to be a No.5 D. What a deep blueline! It's safe to assume that Kris Russell and Ian Cole are on the trading block in St. Louis
-He went to the Stanley Cup Final with Calgary, he got his bell rung by Andy Sutton when he was a Penguin...this guy has been around forever it seems like. He's only 31.
GERBE
-What a curious buyout by Buffalo. 1.85M is nothing for a guy who tries hard every night. I guess Regier just wants to get bigger, but no one wanted him? Even for a 7th rounder?
-Buffalo should probably buyout Ville Leino, if healthy. The guy has tons of skill, but the Sabres are just not a great fit.
LEDDY
-Good to see him re-sign in Chicago, but he needs to round out his game. He was basically stapled to the bench in the Final and despite the new contract, it's pretty clear Quenneville doesn't trust him at the moment.
Thanks for reading!